The Portland daily press., 1887-10-26
HOME FOR AGED WOMEN.
The Annual Meeting, Reports and
Election of Officers.

The annual meeting of the managers of
the Home for Aged Women was held yester-
day afternoon, the President, Mrs. J. T.
Gilman, in the chair. The Secretary, Miss
Harriet S. McCobb. reported as follows:
The thirty third year of the existence Of
the Home for Aged Women brings to close
with the present month period short as re-
CARDS any individual lifetime, but long in the
light of the changes and chances its days
have brought to the institution. Within this
time seyenty-five needy women have been
to the end of their lives, four have been dis
missed, two have left for other firesides
among their own kindred, and nineteen still
remain: The shelter offered has been ac-
cepted by some with joy, as the, beginning of
more comfortable life than they have ever
known; by some with reluctance, as the end
OF a sturdy Independence no longer in their
power, and by others with gratitude as a
quiet avenue, leading them unmolested to
their real home.
"A careful resume of the history of the
Home was given its friends and the public at
the close OF its twenty-fifth wear and the
eight mlle-st0nes passed since then, on the
way to semi-centennial anniversary, mark
a comparatively smooth and even course.
The matron who has had charge of the house
and It's inmates for the last fifteen years is
stlll at her post, and pains have been taken,
particularly during the last eighteen months,
10 keep the building in as good condition as
possible: The temporal affairs are in the
hands OF board of twenty-five managers,
while the visits each week from one of their
number, and the willing services on Sundays
Of the clergy of the city, offer whatever help
can be given to the spiritual necessities.
The last few years have been saddened to
the board by the death of the only two re-
naming original corporatOrs of the associa-
ton, whose labors began in 1854, and ceased
only with their lives,--Mrs. Neal Dow and
Mrs. ID. M. Rea. Both were remarkable for
the energy and practical ability that New
England delights to honor, and both worked
side by side as members of the most import
ant committees connected with the home
that on admission of inmates. While her
associates turned to Mrs. Dow, whose
prompt and sagacious action was required,
they relied equally on Mrs. Rea for valuable
information Of person and character, "be-
cause" to use the words of one of our own
authors, "she had the courage to be abso-
certify is out of place." Their memory is
kept fresh in the way, perhaps, that both
would have chosen-not their outspoken
praise, but in the loving wish for their
presence which arises again and again in
the hearts of their former coworkers
In reading the list of donations to the
Home, as the months go by. wecannot be in
sensible to the thoughtfulness of our cti-
zens In anticipating and supplying the needs
Of the family At Christmas and Thanks
giving the household is never forgotten. The
daily and weekly papers are sent with I'M
failing attention. and read with a keen inter-
est known only to those to whom few chan
nels of news and information are open.
Fruit, milk, ice, vegetables, articles of cloth
ing and of furniture are given, some regu-
larry, others frequently. San Old Sailor"
whose name we are not privileged to know,
sends generous supplies Of welcome dainties
Aid from clergymen, physicians and lawyers
is at hand, year after year. The board of
Orafafnllp standardization oil
favors, together with scores of others, less
tangible, but none the less appreciated
Both the gifts and the sympathy which
prompts them, come like rays of light into
an atmosphere often murky and dim, bring
ing cheer and wholesome strength both to
body and soul.
The treasurer, Miss Julia Greedy, presented
her rennrt as follows.